Gate opener and closer



A. T. CLARKE GATE OPENER AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION ElLED JAN- 14, 1920.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

A. T. CLARK.

GATE OPENER AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14. 1920.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UEQHFEB STATES PATENT. @FFHQEL.

ABSALOM T. CLARKpOF WINCHESTER, INDIANA.

GATE OPENER AND GLOSER.

Application filed. January 14, 1920. Serial No. 351,428.

To all 10 from it may concern Be it known that I, AnsALoM T. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winchester, in the county of Randolph, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate Openers and Closers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in gates and particularly to openers and closers for gates.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of mechanism for automatically opening and closing gates the mechanism of which is set in operation by the vehicle wheels.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved means for mounting sliding gates whereby foreign substances, such as stones, dirt, snow, or other materials, will not interfere with the proper and easy sliding motion of the gates into open and closed positions.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved opening and closing mechanism for sliding gates wherein the initial impulse given to the gates will be of such force as to impart suflicient momentum thereto to complete the opening or closing movements of the gates.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. l

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is an elevation of a pair of sliding gates, in closed position, equipped with my improved opening and closing mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fi 3 is a vertical sectional view through the inner end of one of the gates showing the supporting post and the operating means in elevation. I

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1, just above the turnstile of the operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig.1, just above the arm engaging means on the gate.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 and 11 represent a pair of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

tical parallel portions between which a hori-- zontally slidinggate 12 01'13 moves, and a base block 14 secured on the upper face of a sunken concrete base 15. A foot 16 extends horizontally from the bottom of the base block of the post 10 and on this foot is mounted a short vertical post 17, and rotatably supported on the upper end of this post is a radially armed member 18.

Each gate is formed with a metal frame covered with woven fence wire 19, or line wires, as desired, and secured to the bottom rail of each gate are the blocks 20 carrying grooved wheels 21, equipped with roller bearings. Supported on the angle members 28, and extending across the roadway, from one side to the other, is a track 24, on which the 'grooved wheels engage to support the gates in their opening and closing sliding movements. On the vertical bar at the inner endvof the gate 12 there is secured a pair of spring jaws which grip the corresponding bar of the gate 11 to retain the gates in closed position, said jaws being shown at 25, in Fig. 1.

Mounted in the bifurcation of the post 10,

on the horizontal pivot 26, is an arm 27, the lower end of. which is pivotally connected with one arm of the rotary member 18 by means of the link 28. Secured to the inter- -mediate portion of the gate 12, and extend:

ing horizontally thereon, is a bar 29, the

. closed position by engagement with the other pin. The upper end of the arm is bifurcated and the legs thereof arranged in divergent relation, as shown at 31, to insure a more proper engagement with the pins 30. A similar arm 32 is mounted in the bifurcation of the post 11, and has its upper end similarly bifurcated at 33 for engagement with the pins 34 which hold the bar 35 to the face of the gate 13. Connected loosely to the lower end of the arm 82, and to another arm of the rotary member 18 is a long link 36, whereby when the arm 2 7 is actuated, its motion will be communicated to the arm 82 so that both gates will be moved into open or closed position simultaneously.

A cap 37 is mounted on the top of each post 10 and 11, and carried by each cap,and engaging with the upper horizontal rail of a gate, is a grooved guiding roller 38, whereby the gates are held in proper alinement during their sliding movements into open and closed positions.

Sunken in the roadway, at suitable distances from opposite sides of the gates, are the blocks 89 and 10, and mounted on said blocks, respectively, are the transverse shafts 41 and 42. The shaft ii is formed with a pair of radial loops or blades &8 and 4A, disposed. at such circular angles to the shaft as that when the blade as is in elevated position the blade 4.4. lies horizontally on the block, and vice versa. The shaft is provided with a similar pair of radial members 45 and 4E6, disposed to assume positions similar to those of the members l3 and 14:. The shaft 4.1 has a crank 47 on one end which is connected with one of the remaining arms of the member 18 by a link 48 while the shaft 12 is connected to the remainingarm of the member 18 by a link 4:9. The radial members of the shafts are adapted to be engaged and depressed by the wheels of a vehicle approaching the gateway, as will be readily understood, and form no part of the present invention other than the instrumentality by means of which the previously described mechanism is operated.

When a vehicle approaches the gateway, the driver of the vehicle guides the vehicle so that its wheels will engage and depress the elevated radial member with the result that the link connected to the shaft will rotate the member 18 and rock the appropriate arm of the post 10. The arm will engage the pin of the bar 29 and move the gate 12 along the track toward open position. The movement of the arm will be communicated to the arm of the post 11 by the link 36, whereby said arm will engage the inner pin of bar 35 with the result that the gate 13 will be moved along the track toward open position. The vehicle then passes through the gateway, and as the vehicle advances the driver guides the vehicle so that its wheels will enand depress the elevated radial member at the other side of the gateway, with the result that the member 18 will be rotated in the opposite direction and the arms engage the other pins of their respective bars on the gates, and slide the gates into closed position. lVhen in such position, the spring jaws 25 will engage the opposite gate and hold them in closed position.

Tnwardly of the inner end of each gate, and at a point at the limit of the opening movements thereof, are the vertical posts 50 which, when the gates are in completely open position, are engaged by spring gripping jaws 51 carried by the inner ends of the gates. These jaws thus hold the gates against rebounding toward closed position.

What is claimed is:

The combination with spaced pairs of spaced posts, the posts of each pair having a common base, of a track extending between and beyond the pairs of posts and between the posts of each pair, a gate disposed between the posts of each pair and adapted to run throughout the corresponding portion of the track, a pair of outwardly extending and longitudinally alined pins secured to each gate, a longitudinal bar secured to the outer ends of the pins of each gate and being spaced from the gate thereby, a pivoted lever between the posts of each pair and having one end disposed between a bar and corresponding gate, said lever end having divergent terminal hooks for alternate engagement with said pins of a gate, and means for simultaneously rocking the levers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ABSALOM T. CLARK. Witnesses GEORGE H. WARD, Lnwls M. CLARK. 

